Circular polarisation in star-forming regions: Possible implications for homochirality

J. H. Hough; J. A. Bailey; A. Chrysostomou; T. M. Gledhill; P. W. Lucas; M. Tamura; S. Clark; J. Yates; F. Menard

doi:10.1016/S0273-1177(01)00063-1

Circular polarisation in star-forming regions: Possible implications for homochirality

J. H. Hough^*, J. A. Bailey, A. Chrysostomou, T. M. Gledhill, P. W. Lucas, M. Tamura, S. Clark, J. Yates, F. Menard

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

19 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Our discovery of high degrees of circular polarisation in some star-forming regions provides an attractive mechanism for the origin of homochirality. The largest degrees of circular polarisation, so far observed at near-infrared wavelengths, are thought to arise from the scattering of stellar radiation from aligned dust grains and are calculated to extend down to UV wavelengths. The extent of the region where circularly polarised light (CPL) of a single handedness originates is very large, and it is likely that the whole of a planetary system would see a single handedness of CPL also. We present the observational data, models of the scattering that leads to the production of CPL, and a model for the origin of homochirality. We also discuss briefly future laboratory and space-based experiments.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	313-322
Number of pages	10
Journal	Advances in Space Research
Volume	27
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0273-1177(01)00063-1
Publication status	Published - Jan 2001

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title = "Circular polarisation in star-forming regions: Possible implications for homochirality",

abstract = "Our discovery of high degrees of circular polarisation in some star-forming regions provides an attractive mechanism for the origin of homochirality. The largest degrees of circular polarisation, so far observed at near-infrared wavelengths, are thought to arise from the scattering of stellar radiation from aligned dust grains and are calculated to extend down to UV wavelengths. The extent of the region where circularly polarised light (CPL) of a single handedness originates is very large, and it is likely that the whole of a planetary system would see a single handedness of CPL also. We present the observational data, models of the scattering that leads to the production of CPL, and a model for the origin of homochirality. We also discuss briefly future laboratory and space-based experiments.",

author = "Hough, {J. H.} and Bailey, {J. A.} and A. Chrysostomou and Gledhill, {T. M.} and Lucas, {P. W.} and M. Tamura and S. Clark and J. Yates and F. Menard",

year = "2001",

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language = "English",

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journal = "Advances in Space Research",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Circular polarisation in star-forming regions

T2 - Possible implications for homochirality

AU - Hough, J. H.

AU - Bailey, J. A.

AU - Chrysostomou, A.

AU - Gledhill, T. M.

AU - Lucas, P. W.

AU - Tamura, M.

AU - Clark, S.

AU - Yates, J.

AU - Menard, F.

PY - 2001/1

Y1 - 2001/1

N2 - Our discovery of high degrees of circular polarisation in some star-forming regions provides an attractive mechanism for the origin of homochirality. The largest degrees of circular polarisation, so far observed at near-infrared wavelengths, are thought to arise from the scattering of stellar radiation from aligned dust grains and are calculated to extend down to UV wavelengths. The extent of the region where circularly polarised light (CPL) of a single handedness originates is very large, and it is likely that the whole of a planetary system would see a single handedness of CPL also. We present the observational data, models of the scattering that leads to the production of CPL, and a model for the origin of homochirality. We also discuss briefly future laboratory and space-based experiments.

AB - Our discovery of high degrees of circular polarisation in some star-forming regions provides an attractive mechanism for the origin of homochirality. The largest degrees of circular polarisation, so far observed at near-infrared wavelengths, are thought to arise from the scattering of stellar radiation from aligned dust grains and are calculated to extend down to UV wavelengths. The extent of the region where circularly polarised light (CPL) of a single handedness originates is very large, and it is likely that the whole of a planetary system would see a single handedness of CPL also. We present the observational data, models of the scattering that leads to the production of CPL, and a model for the origin of homochirality. We also discuss briefly future laboratory and space-based experiments.

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U2 - 10.1016/S0273-1177(01)00063-1

DO - 10.1016/S0273-1177(01)00063-1

M3 - Article

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AN - SCOPUS:0034979876

VL - 27

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EP - 322

JO - Advances in Space Research

JF - Advances in Space Research

SN - 0273-1177

IS - 2

ER -

Circular polarisation in star-forming regions: Possible implications for homochirality

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